Politics
Christian Persecution in the Workplace
Christian persecution does exist in America’s workplace. This can be seen in new company policies dealing with tolerance toward all employees. However, many times tolerance is not shown toward Christian employees. In fact, many Christians are ridiculed and harassed on a regular basis just because they do not accept the sinful practices of some of the workers, specifically those who practice homosexuality. Unfortunately, many employers require all workers to take sensitivity classes for the purpose of teaching tolerance toward and the acceptance of homosexuality as an alternative sexual orientation. But, when Christian workers refuse the training based on their religious beliefs, they are fired because they did not follow the dictates of their employers that have nothing to do with job performance. Ultimately, with the onslaught of new anti-Christian ideologies and religions in the United States, Christians have begun to fight one spiritual battle after another in the workplace. Of course, the main weapon used by Satan in the workplace is persecution.
Why are American companies requiring their employees to take classes on tolerance and sensitivity in the workplace? Accordingly, no person in the workplace should be intimidated by their colleagues because of their religious faith, their sexual orientation, or their ethnic group. Therefore, many companies have a zero tolerance policy. If anyone says anything negative about another person’s religion, sexual orientation, or ethnic group, he will be fired. But, if a person is intolerant toward a Christian, he normally would not be fired. Zero tolerance appears to be an anti-Christian philosophy. It is used as a method to discriminate toward Christians. It is also a method used to force Christians to accept ideas that go against their religious belief system and the teachings of the Bible. Basically, Christians are forced to be tolerant toward their fellow workers, but their fellow workers do not have to be as tolerant toward their Christian counterparts.
The Bible explicitly states that the followers of Jesus Christ will be persecuted. Unfortunately, this regularly happens in the workplace. According to Daniel J. Stewart of Jesus-Is-Savior.Com, some horrendous anti-Christian persecution was directed toward him in the workplace. He stated, “In my many years of secular workplace experience: I've had hammers thrown at me, been spit upon, been thrown up against the wall, been grabbed by the throat, had my radio thrown and broken, been physically threatened, told to find another job, been fired, had the buttons ripped off my shirt, shocked from a charged capacitor placed on my toolbox, called every name imaginable, called ‘baby Jesus,’ told not to bring my Bible back to work, told by my boss ‘If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen’ when I complained about the abuse …all because I was living for Jesus Christ. They hated my Christian music. They hated my Bible at work. They hated the Bible verses on my tool box. They hated hearing me talk about the Bible and God. They hated my smile and the gleam in my eye. They hated me without cause. They really hated Jesus and I was a reminder of Jesus.” (1) Sadly, this is probably a scenario that happens more often than most people think, even in a nation where Christian churches are located on practically ever street corner.
If Christian persecution does exist in the workplace, what can be done to stop it? But, in reality, is there anything that can be done to stop it? The answer to this question is very simple. There is nothing to eliminate all Christian persecution in America’s workplace, except the return of Jesus Christ. However, why is the amount of Christian persecution increasing at a rapid rate? The answer to this question is very simple, too. As Daniel J. Stewart so aptly stated, many non-Christians in the workplace hate Christians, especially those who openly witness for Christ. Also, since Christians are intolerant to belief systems that are contrary to the teachings of the Bible, they are singled out as the promoters of “hate speech.” This in itself will lead to more persecution. (1)
Why has Christian persecution become the thing to do in America’s workplace? Are there some hidden agendas? Who is ultimately responsible for the persecution of Christians in the workplace? Persecution comes with being a Christian. However, no one wants to be persecuted. But, in so many words, Jesus said that it would come during His time on the earth, in the present, and in the future. As previously mentioned, according to John 15:18, “If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” Also, according to II Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Thus, Christians will be persecuted. But, what is God’s purpose for permitting His children to be persecuted on their job. According to Michael Zigarelli, professor and Christian author, “Persecution is a vehicle God uses to transform us from lukewarm to red-hot followers. You might ask how it is a blessing when someone is gossiping about me. How is it a blessing when my job is threatened because of my faith? Why doesn't God bless me by FedExing a lightening bolt to this atheist who's using me as a verbal punching bag? Perhaps because such trials have the capacity to make us stronger, to ratchet up our commitment, to make us more Christ-like.” (2)
Despite the fact that Christians are and will be persecuted in the workplace, there are definitely some hidden agendas associated with the persecution of Christians in America. First, anti-Christians want Christians silenced in the workplace. True Christians are constantly voicing their opinion about the sinful practices that exist in the marketplace. Therefore, anti-Christian forces are attempting to discourage the Christian influence by attacking the credibility of Christian workers.
Second, anti-Christian forces want to replace the Christian influence in the workplace with those of modernistic, neo-pagan worship beliefs. The Wicca and Gaia religions are gaining many followers in the United States. They basically promote the worship of Mother Earth. They put the creation of the earth ahead of the creator. Therefore, Christians are persecuted in order to prevent them from fighting the arrival of a new type of spirit in the workplace, the spirit of Satan instead of the spirit of God. Since Christians are busy defending the front door of the workplace, Satan is coming in the backdoor of the workplace.
Third, as part of their hidden agenda, anti-Christian forces are promoting the homosexual lifestyle in the workplace. It pushes the idea that homosexual couples should receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples. Unfortunately, many large corporations are buying in to this ungodly ideology. They are saying by their actions that homosexuality and same-sex marriages are acceptable. But, what does God say? Has He changed His mind from how he felt during the ancient days of Sodom and Gomorrah, as recorded in the Bible? According to Malachi 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I change not…” Therefore, the answer to the question is obvious.
It is also obvious that many United States corporations openly back the homosexual agenda in the workplace. Some of the more well-known companies are Anheuser-Busch, Kodak, ChevronTexaco, Wells Fargo and Philip Morris. These companies are so prominent in the anti-Christian homosexual activist movement that they were awarded a spot in Out Magazine, a voice for the “gay” and “lesbian” life. Needless to say, these companies and many more companies like them support homosexuality in the workplace, but they deny the mention of Christianity in the same workplace. Of course, that is synonymous with discrimination and outright anti-Christian propaganda. (3)
There are many other examples that prove that corporations promote homosexuality but deny Christianity. Diversity and tolerance training is required by many corporations mainly to promote tolerance toward homosexuals, but tolerance toward Christians is not included. In fact, many companies have fired Christians who expressed their negative feelings about homosexuality. One such case involved Rolf Szabo who worked for Kodak. When he objected to a pro-homosexual memo, he was fired. The memo is as follows:
Today, Oct. 11, 2002 is the Human Rights Campaign's 15th annual National Coming Out Day for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered. If one of your employees elects to "come out" at work, there are several things you can do to help that person feel comfortable in sharing his/her orientation in the workplace:
Be supportive of the individual who wishes to share this information.
Acknowledge his/her courage to publicly share this personal information.
Respect the individual's privacy. Understand how broadly he/she wishes the information to be shared.
Acknowledge your level of awareness of this topic, and share your personal willingness to understand.
Be sensitive to the employee's language in defining their personal orientation.
Support the employee in displaying appropriate personal photos in the work setting.
Recognize and respect that not all (gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered) employees find it OK to be out at work. They should not be questioned or harassed about their sexual orientation.
Act quickly and responsibly if any anti-gay humor or negative comments are made in the workplace
In response, Mr. Szabo wrote the following response:
Please do not send this type of information to me anymore, as I find it disgusting and offensive.
Thank you,
Rolf Szabo
When Mr. Szabo refused to apologize for his response to the company memo, he was fired. This was definitely an example of Christian persecution in the workplace. (3)
It is also obvious that Christians will face many persecutions and challenges in the workplace as Americans forget God and His will for their lives. Economic gain will replace honesty in the workplace. Economic gain will replace workmanship in the workplace. Economic gain will replace integrity in the workplace. Ultimately, according to anti-Christian forces in the workplace, Christians will become a stumbling block to those who do not want to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ in the workplace. Therefore, if they can intimidate Christians and drive them from their particular workplace, they will have achieved their goal to obtain a work environment without Christians witnessing about their God. God Forbid!
References
1. Stewart, Daniel J. “Carrying Your Cross” Jesus-Is-Savior. 31 May 2006
2. Zigarelli, Michael. “The Problem of People-Pleasing” Christianity Today. 2 June 2006
3. “Corporations Proud of Gay Politics” WorldNetDaily. 5 June 2006
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